Yoo Hae-ran Leads the Charge... Jang Ha-na in 2nd Place, 1 Stroke Behind

Lotte Open Day 3: Park Jooyoung Shoots 4-Under Par for 3rd Place, Cho Ayeon Ties 4th, Choi Hyejin Ties 7th, 4 Strokes Behind

Yoo Hae-ran is making an iron shot on the 1st hole on the third day of the Lotte Open. Photo by KLPGA

[Asia Economy Reporter No Woo-rae] Yu Hae-ran (20, SK Networks) takes the lead.

On the 5th, at the Bears Best Golf Club USA-Austral Asia Course (par 72, 6716 yards) in Cheongna, Incheon, during the third day of the KLPGA Tour Lotte Open (total prize money 800 million KRW), she surged with a 4-under-par round to dominate the top of the leaderboard (7-under-par 209 strokes). Jang Ha-na (29, BC Card) is in 2nd place (6-under-par 210 strokes), Park Joo-young (31) is 3rd (5-under-par 211 strokes), and Jo Ah-yeon (21, all from Dongbu Construction) along with two others are tied for 4th place (4-under-par 212 strokes), continuing the chase.

Starting from a tie for 8th place, 2 strokes behind, Yu Hae-ran collected 5 birdies (1 bogey). She reduced 2 strokes in the front nine with birdies on holes 1 and 6, then made 3 consecutive birdies from holes 13 to 15 in the back nine. However, a bogey on the 17th hole (par 3) was a blemish. This marks her third career win following back-to-back victories at the Jeju Samdasoo Masters in 2019 and 2020. Jang Ha-na recorded 3 birdies and 2 bogeys, reducing her score by 1 stroke, continuing her chance for her first win of the season and 14th career victory.

Choi Hye-jin (22, Lotte) and Ahn Na-rin (25, Munyoung Group) are tied for 7th place, 4 strokes behind (3-under-par 213 strokes), eyeing a comeback. Rookie Kim Hee-ji (20, BC Card), who was co-leader the previous day, struggled with a 3-over-par round and dropped to a tie for 11th place (2-under-par 214 strokes). Lim Hee-jung (21, Korea Land & Trust) is in this group. ‘Lotte Rent-a-Car Champ’ Lee So-mi (22, SBI Savings Bank) is tied for 33rd place (3-over-par 219 strokes), and ‘Kyochon Champ’ Kwak Bo-mi (29, High1 Resort) is tied for 42nd place (4-over-par 220 strokes).